Do You Know What This Is And It's Use ?

[donny48]

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=14mt8co&s=9#.WvggyiAh06Q
Can anyone recognise this object ? You can judge its size by the Tesco carrier bag, I have not got the object just the photo at present.

[donny48]

Great idea Melv.

[redman41]

Seems to have been cut in half and mounted on wood.
With such a powerful looking coiled spring system, could it be an old fashioned Nail or Riveting Gun ?

[donny48]

Spath , Thanks for the interest but I fail to follow what would make this object a door hinge.

[Togo]

Just a thought Donny.....an early door closer? Stable door, horses and all that.

[melv16]

I'm now thinking it could be off a steam loco or a traction engine?

[rowanwitch]

I thought half of a high pressure valve, a spring that sturdy would take a lot of force to extend it, but heat would also expand it and a coil would be able to scale up the expansion due to its length. The only thing that bothers me is the spoon like depression at the right hand end. I have seen levers in the past with similar depressions at one end but they were always longer. There isn't enough space at the r h end for any significant movement. At times like this I wish my dad was still here, he was an engineer and probably would have tried to make one just to see how the parts fitted together.

[melv16]

I've emailed a machine tool dealer, my local industrial museum and a company that sells parts for traction engines. So far, the machine tool place has got back to me, they have no idea as well.

[Davemano]

The reason I suggested and end view is because I think it could be connected to brass bullet case manufacturing.

[donny48]

Many thanks to all those who are trying to find out , my latest thought concerns the rod that has a pig tail twist to it. If the article is "cocked", ie. the spring tensioned , then if the spring was released suddenly then the "pig tail" would vibrate giving a warning signal. So a flag attached as a visible alarm or a tin can to rattle and give an audible alarm.

[murraymints]

morning Donny XX..OO..XX.. The plot thickens...

[donny48]

Good morning Minty, XXOOXX The plot like soup thickens and gets better with age.

[murraymints]

bit like thee and me ? tee hee

[donny48]

Never too old that my head is not turned by a beautifully turned ankle in a pink sock.

[murraymints]

EEK !

[dannyk13]

Donny, can you get a picture of front elevation?

[donny48]

I have asked but my daughter has not got back to me, I will post any other photos when she does.
Thanks for trying Danny.

[Peter Pedant]

yeah agree togo
the spring is tensioned / extended by the winder
but what is the other end of the spring attached to
and when the spring is sprung - what clicks?

bit of railway knick knack?